New and used shipping containers for sale and hire in Cairns and Far North Queensland — the coastal plain from Gordonvale to Smithfield, and up the range to Mareeba and Atherton.
Wet-season storage is serious business in the Far North. Cargo-worthy containers are sold wind and watertight against the rain — as-is units are cheaper and are not sold as watertight — and we'll talk through siting and anchoring before the season hits.
Areas we service around Cairns: Cairns, Smithfield, Gordonvale, Mareeba, Atherton — and everywhere between. Not listed? Ask us — we go further than you'd think.
On the coastal strip the land is flat and the roads are good, so a 20ft container on a tilt-tray is a routine drop — into an industrial yard, beside a cane shed at Gordonvale, or down the side of a house block at Smithfield. The Tablelands are another matter. Mareeba and Atherton sit on top of the range, and every road up is steep and winding. We plan the truck and the route for each Tablelands delivery, which is why we ask where on the Tablelands you are before quoting, not after. The access details the driver needs are set out on our delivery page.
In the Far North the calendar matters as much as the address. Through the wet season, paddocks and unsealed driveways that carried a loaded truck in August can be too soft to risk. If you know you will need storage, book the delivery for the dry and have the pad ready: firm, draining ground, with concrete blocks or hardwood sleepers under the four corner castings.
Cargo-worthy containers are sold wind and watertight, and that holds up under tropical rain. Humidity is the real enemy. Fit a whirlybird or louvre vents, leave an air gap under the floor and do not lock away anything damp, or you will open the doors to mould. As-is units are not sold as watertight and are a poor choice for a Cairns wet season unless the contents do not care.
Cyclones are part of life here. A container is heavy, but no one should describe it as cyclone-proof. Talk to an engineer or installer about anchoring before the season, and keep the container away from trees.
Cane farmers on the coast and fruit, coffee and vegetable growers around Mareeba and Atherton use containers for chemicals, fertiliser, irrigation parts and packing materials — a used 20ft is the workhorse, a 40ft where pallets are involved. Tourism and marine operators want lockable storage for gear between seasons. Builders take containers on hire as site stores. Anyone converting a box into a workshop or office in this climate should start with a high cube, because the extra height leaves room for insulation and airflow.
North of the city, the northern beaches — Trinity Beach, Kewarra Beach, Palm Cove, Clifton Beach — are household and holiday-rental territory: renovations, furniture between leases, boat and dive gear. Blocks are often small with lush gardens and low branches, so a clear path for the truck matters. Beyond Ellis Beach, the Captain Cook Highway winds along the coast to Port Douglas and the Mossman district, where tourism operators and cane farms both use containers. That road is narrow and scenic, so Port Douglas and Mossman deliveries are planned with the route in mind.
South of the city, Edmonton, Mount Peter and Gordonvale are where Cairns is growing, with new estates between the cane fields — site storage and moving storage on hire. Closer in, the Portsmith marine and industrial precinct is full of businesses that live on lockable storage: marine engineers, charter operators and fabricators keeping parts, spares and seasonal gear behind steel. A used cargo-worthy 20ft is the usual buy there, with a 40ft where there is hardstand to spare.
Tablelands deliveries go up either the Kuranda Range on the Kennedy Highway or the Gillies Range from Gordonvale, and both are steep and winding. Which one suits depends on where you are going and what the truck is carrying. On top, Mareeba is drier and flatter farming country, while Atherton, Malanda and Yungaburra are greener, wetter and hillier. Tell us your town and the last few kilometres of road, and we will plan from there.
Brisbane-depot guide pricing — local Cairns pricing varies with depot stock, and freight is quoted upfront with your quote.
Price guide only — Brisbane-depot floor pricing; regional prices vary with local stock and freight. Call 1300 235 972 for today's exact price, delivered.
Yes. Tablelands deliveries come up the range, so we plan the truck and route around the road in and your property access. Let us know the nearest town and whether the last stretch is sealed.
The dry season, if you have the choice. Ground is firm, access tracks are open and you have time to set up ventilation and anchoring before the wet. Deliveries still happen in the wet season, but soft ground causes more postponements.
Ventilation and dry contents. Fit roof or wall vents, keep the box off the ground so air moves underneath, use moisture absorbers for stored fabrics and paper, and never pack wet gear. A watertight container that is sealed up humid will still sweat.
Yes. Delivery along the Captain Cook Highway is planned around the road and your site access, and it is quoted with the container. Send photos of the entrance and the drop spot.
Yes. Tablelands towns are reached via the Kuranda or Gillies range roads. Let us know your town and whether your driveway is sealed, steep or grassed.
Timing depends on stock and the truck schedule; we confirm it when you book.
Delivery is quoted upfront based on your exact address and container size — one clear number covering container + freight, GST inclusive. Call 1300 235 972 for a delivered price today.
Ask us and we'll send photos of your actual container — serial number visible — before it's delivered. Local inspection options depend on depot stock; ask when you enquire.
Quotes within the hour*
Tell us what you need and we'll come back with a straight price — container plus delivery to Cairns, no surprises.
*During business hours. After hours, first thing next morning.
Access widths, ground prep and truck types — everything to sort before delivery day so your container lands exactly where you want it.
The honest breakdown of when a used container is the smart money — and the situations where new is worth every dollar.
The genuinely useful answer: usually no for temporary storage, often yes for permanent placement — and how to check your council in ten minutes.